New Warning Ratchets Up Anxiety of War on Korean Peninsula

New Warning Ratchets Up Anxiety of War on Korean Peninsula

Pyongyang tells foreigners to leave South Korea, but hope remains that bluster—not true intent—is behind provocative language on both sides

by

Jon Queally, staff writer

North Korean soldiers look to the South as they patrol at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone separating the North from South Korea in Paju, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul March 19, 2013. (Credit: Reuters/Lee Jae-Won)

Threats of conflict on the Korean peninsula continued on Tuesday, with North Korea media reporting that foreigners in South Korea have been warned to leave the peninsula if they wish to avoid being caught up in a possible military exchange.

Outlets are also reporting that a possible missile test by North Korea on Wednesday of this week could spur retaliation from Seoul.

As the world waits to see if North Korea launches a ballistic missile, the regime has attempted to raise tensions further, warning foreigners living in South Korea to make evacuation plans because the peninsula is on the brink of war.

"We do not wish harm on foreigners in South Korea should there be a war," the official KCNA news agency quoted an official from a North Korean organisation calling itself Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee as saying.

The KCNA report did not offer details and there are reportedly no signs of a military buildup near the border dividing the Korean peninsula, located less than 40 miles from the South Korean capital, Seoul.

Analysts noted that Pyongyang had issued similar threats in the past, adding that this latest warning is designed to elicit aid and political concessions from Seoul and Washington.

The latest bluster from Pyongyang follows weeks of increasing tension between the two countries that took place amid ongoing joint US/South Korean military exercises that North Korea deems highly provocative.

A separate article by KCNA on Tuesday recounts the long history of US military maneuvers with their South Korean allies. Referencing specific military drills with code names like operation "Key Resolve" and "Foal Eagle" the story culminates by explaining events of recent weeks from the North Korean government's perspective. It reads:

Since 2008 the U.S. has hurled all ultra-modern nuclear attack means including the largest-ever nuclear aircraft carrier and strategic bombers into Key Resolve, Foal Eagle and Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises.

B-2A flew into the sky above south Korea from the U.S. mainland for the first time in U.S. history to stage a mock drill for dropping nuclear bombs as part of Key Resolve and Foal Eagle.

John S. McCain and Decatur, Aegis destroyers carrying interceptor missiles, and SBX-1 were dispatched and two nuclear carrier flotillas were deployed in the waters off the Korean Peninsula.

As seen above, military drills being staged by the U.S. and the south Korean puppet warmongers under various codenames, claiming they are for "defensive" and "annual ones" are, to all intents and purposes, premeditated provocations to launch a war on the Korean Peninsula and nuclear war maneuvers to preempt a nuclear attack on the DPRK.

All facts go to clearly prove that they are the arch criminals escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and provocateurs, aggressors harassing peace and increasing the danger of war.

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